An increasingly rare piece in Brazilian football, MLS has South American strikers who could be very successful in top-tier clubs in the Brasileirão, the domestic league of the only five-time world cup champion.
I write this text shortly after becoming aware of the transfer of the attacker Cristian “Chico” Arango, who is in the process of leaving LAFC for Pachuca, from Mexico. Arango, aged 27, accumulates spells in Portugal and Spain but achieved greater prominence at Milionários, in Colombia, where he scored 19 goals in 68 games.
His performance led LAFC to disburse $3 million in 2021 to count on the top scorer’s football. Arango proved to be an even more prolific goalscorer in the United States two years after his arrival, with 30 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances. He was a crucial player in the LAFC roster that won the 2022 MLS Cup.
Contrast such powerful numbers with a growing problem:
With so many Brazilian clubs looking for a goal man – something increasingly rare in Brazilian football – Arango’s move to Pachucha leaves me wondering: why did no Brazilian manager take advantage of the end of the season in the United States to make a proposal for LAFC in exchange for the Colombian?
Some will bring up the failed experience of Fábio Gomes at Atlético Mineiro. Still, I emphasize that the same club did well by exploring the Major League Soccer market when they sought the great Savarino at Real Salt Lake. The Venezuelan’s success was so great that it is ubiquitous to see Atlético fans lament when Savarino did the opposite and returned to Real Salt Lake and MLS.
MLS brings together good names that could play in Brazilian football (below in the text).
Arango has many requirements for a goalscorer: tall, strong, and good finishing skills. Certainly would have space at São Paulo, Vasco, Cruzeiro, Fluminense, Botafogo, América Mineiro, Bahia, Santos, just to name a few.
For those with a full pocket
Another Colombian who could be a solution for Brazilian clubs also plays in the MLS. However, “Cucho” Hernández, 23, would be a slightly more challenging target to land on account of the $9 million Columbus Crew paid to England’s Watford.
In addition to the Premier League, Hernández accumulated experience in Spain, where he played for Huesca, Mallorca, and Getafe. Not so tall (1.76m), he can act as a reference in the area and also move around the sides, mainly on the right flank of the attack. Since arriving in Columbus last year, he has scored nine times in 16 games.
More names
Leonardo Campana was revealed in Barcelona, Ecuador. From the South American country, he ventured into Europe, including a spell at Wolverhampton in England. Without space, he fit like a glove in Inter Miami‘s attack in 2022.
On a team looking to establish itself in MLS after two turbulent years – including league fines over salary issues involving designated players, Campana proved efficient and, in 28 games in total for Inter Miami, scored 12 times and made David Beckham’s club disburse US$ 3 million to Wolverhampton to buy the Ecuadorian’s rights.
However, the striker ended 2022 injured and missing the club in the Eastern Conference playoffs (eliminated by New York City in the match that determined the retirement of Gonzalo Higuaín from the soccer pitch). Nevertheless, it’s another name that could go well with a Brazilian club at a time when Ecuadorian soccer is on a high note
Julián Carranza became a professional at Banfield, in Argentina, after passing through the club’s youth teams. After 48 games for Taladro- 11 goals and two assists-he attracted the attention of Inter Miami (look at them there again!), who paid almost five and a half million dollars for the Argentine.
In the messy Florida club, Carranza did not do well. His numbers there: a meager three goals in 42 matches.
On loan from Inter to Philadelphia Union and coached by Jim Curtin, the Argentinian’s football is back. Forming one of the most prolific attacking trios in MLS last season with Mikael Uhre and Dániel Gazdag, Carranza helped the Union to the MLS Cup for the first time in its history. In 35 matches, the Argentine scored 15 goals and stood out for his seven assists.
As his contract was on loan with a purchase option, the Philadelphia Union had no doubts and, in mid-2022, exercised the contractual right for Julián Carranza to remain.
(Cover: Celso Oliveira/Território MLS)
